Walas around the world
In just 6 years, World of Walas has grown to over 25 companies across Europe and North America, with partnerships around the globe.
Our companies cover the span of development from first engagement through to development, innovations, finance solutions and property management, with a platform to help innovators access new markets and connect for the exponential results we need in our cities.
We are growing quickly, but it’s just a start to bringing a fundamentally different approach to urban development. Welcome to the World of Walas.
Europe
America
Asia
About Vancouver
Vancouver is located in British Columbia, Canada, with easy access to Western Canada and the American states of Washington and Oregon. The West Coast has ambitious sustainability goals, but lags behind Europe in innovations and practice. Local government policies and regulations are ambitious as the region looks to lead in sustainable development. This creates many opportunities for innovative European companies with international ambitions.
Dudoc Innovation Centres are proud members of World of Walas, and part of our Access to Innovation platform. They are physical locations with exhibition space and business services for partners, and event and meeting space for the local community to connect about global sustainability. The first Dudoc Innovation Centre was launched in Vancouver, Canada in late 2014. The response has been enthusiastic, with requests for similar Centres in cities all over the world. Services include exhibition space, local presence and contact information and access to services, events and opportunities designed to help access new markets.
Visit Dudoc
Walas Concepts is a global group working within World of Walas to help create and conceptualize projects for sustainable urban development and consult in urban matters. First in on projects, Walas Concepts researches and developes inspired urban concepts and sustainable business models for both internal projects and outside clients, the Walas Way. Areas of expertise include community outreach and development, landscape architecture, socio-economics research and implementation, urban planning and design, architecture, integrated innovations, land use planning and design and more.
Visit World of Walas
Walas Branding and Communication works globally to bring the Walas message to the many different context we operate in. Headquartered in Vancouver, Branding works across languages, cultures and industries with our Walas Companies, partners and communities.
Visit World of Walas
Blueworxx connects cities and innovations. Our partners are innovators with market ready businesses and products who want to be part of something bigger. They all provide solutions to critical challenges in urban development. These innovations can be brought together in smart combinations for a better impact on feasibility and overall performance of projects. When innovations like this are easily accessible and brought together in the right combinations, we know they can create the exponential improvements we need for sustainable cities.
Visit BlueWorxxAbout Toronto
Toronto is the largest city in Canada, and an international centre for business, arts, finance and entertainment. Our partner, Popovich and Associates, has worked in the greater Toronto area for over 30 years, focusing on urban design, architecture, landscape, ecology and economics.
Walas Concepts is a global group working within World of Walas to help create and conceptualize projects for sustainable urban development and consult in urban matters. First in on projects, Walas Concepts researches and developes inspired urban concepts and sustainable business models for both internal projects and outside clients, the Walas Way. Areas of expertise include community outreach and development, landscape architecture, socio-economics research and implementation, urban planning and design, architecture, integrated innovations, land use planning and design and more.
Visit World of WalasAbout Enschede
Enschede, in the Eastern part of the Netherlands, was built on the textile industry that blossomed around the turn of the 20th century. Spinnerij Oosterveld is an important building in the region. Built in 1911, the spinning mill was critical in supporting the Twente textile industry. The municipality of Enschede is doing everything to preserve industrial heritage from this period and to give it a new function in the contemporary context.
Spinnerij Oosterveld is a World of Walas project located in Enschede, in the Eastern part of the Netherlands. Walas began work to revitalize the historic Spinnerij Oosterveld building in 2016, and quickly improved the project within the first year. The industrial textile roots are still tangible in and around the characteristic 1911 building, but it is now a thriving hub operating at capacity with 180 tech companies and innovators, and regular events.
Rigtersbleek-zandvoort 10
7521 BE Enschede
Netherlands
EU: +31 45 206 0000
CND: +1 604 681 2971
Farm2Future explores integrated solutions to some of the most pressing challenges modern cities face in food security. We develop new agri-systems for cities that can produce food on smaller and alternative areas, and protect crops with less environmental impact. Our solutions include stand alone, closed systems for food production, integrated pest management and new innovations in bio-materials.
Visit Farm2FutureBlueworxx connects cities and innovations. Our partners are innovators with market ready businesses and products who want to be part of something bigger. They all provide solutions to critical challenges in urban development. These innovations can be brought together in smart combinations for a better impact on feasibility and overall performance of projects. When innovations like this are easily accessible and brought together in the right combinations, we know they can create the exponential improvements we need for sustainable cities.
Visit BlueWorxx
Walas Projects manages the communities, buildings and other assets of our Walas locations. Walas Projects are carefully chosen. We see the promise of worn down urban areas. We love empty factories and old buildings. We believe in their strength and the meaning of their sounds. We know that people like to experience these places, and come to know their souls. We know how to turn old buildings in to fantastic places for people to live, work, recreate and challenge their creativity. We are convinced that, with the new users and inhabitants, the colourful world of urban activities creates a platform for sustainable and vital cities: socially, economically, culturally and ecologically powerful. We believe that cities start with people.
Visit World of WalasAbout Parkstad
Heerlen is located deep in the south of the Netherlands, in the Parkstad region. An interesting city with heart, Heerlen has faced its own challenges with decades of economic decline in traditional industries of coal mining and chemicals. When one of the city’s largest employers – the National Statistics Office – decided to move to a new centre, the complex was left vacant. Walas saw a great opportunity and developed an ambitious vision for the revitalization of the vacant buildings and site.
Carbon6 is a successful urban revitalization project by World of Walas and our flagship project. Walas took ownership of the 500,000 sq. ft. complex in Parkstad, Limburg in 2012. After sitting empty for over 5 years, it now hosts a wide range of functions with 130 tenants including creative industries, urban farming, arts and culture, workshops, events and more. The overall environmental and financial performance has been dramatically improved, and over 1200 new jobs have been created in this resilient community.
Kloosterweg 1
6412 CN Parkstad Limburg
Netherlands
EU: +31 45 206 0000
CarbonBlue is a reimagining of an 800 space car parkade. This solar parkade has integrated business models to improve the local environment, creates economy and bring an expected ROI of less than 6 years. The parkade will provide approximately 900,000 kWh of solar energy each year to support the energy demands of the Carbon6 complex. The project is the result of a close collaboration of partners from The Netherlands, Germany, Nigeria, Austria, and Canada.
Visit CarbonBlueBlueworxx connects cities and innovations. Our partners are innovators with market ready businesses and products who want to be part of something bigger. They all provide solutions to critical challenges in urban development. These innovations can be brought together in smart combinations for a better impact on feasibility and overall performance of projects. When innovations like this are easily accessible and brought together in the right combinations, we know they can create the exponential improvements we need for sustainable cities.
Visit BlueWorxxFarm2Future explores integrated solutions to some of the most pressing challenges modern cities face in food security. We develop new agri-systems for cities that can produce food on smaller and alternative areas, and protect crops with less environmental impact. Our solutions include stand alone, closed systems for food production, integrated pest management and new innovations in bio-materials.
Visit Farm2Future
CarbonGreen reduces energy costs and improves environmental performance of buildings through an integrated solution for supply and distribution of heat and cooling. Designed to work on or off grid, CarbonGreen sustainably generates and regenerates, stores and distributes building heat using biomass technology. The pilot project in Carbon6 now provides 50% of the base load energy with a very short CO2 cycle. The few ashes produced through this system are re-purposed to build local roads. Partnering with top innovator Döpik and Heizomat, the system saves 350,000 kg of CO2 each year.
About CarbonGreenAbout Wolfheze
The private head office of World of Walas is located in the picturesque village of Wolfheze in the central part of the Netherlands, not far from historic Arnhem. Surrounded by old forest and biking trails, this small office is home to big ideas and a vision for a fundamentally different approach to sustainable urban development. Visits by appointment only.
Walas Europe B.V.
Wolfhezerweg 67
6874 AC Wolfheze
Netherlands
EU: +31 6 51367142
Walas Concepts is a global group working within World of Walas to help create and conceptualize projects for sustainable urban development and consult in urban matters. First in on projects, Walas Concepts researches and developes inspired urban concepts and sustainable business models for both internal projects and outside clients, the Walas Way. Areas of expertise include community outreach and development, landscape architecture, socio-economics research and implementation, urban planning and design, architecture, integrated innovations, land use planning and design and more.
Visit World of WalasWalas Branding and Communication works globally to bring the Walas message to the many different context we operate in. Headquartered in Vancouver, Branding works across languages, cultures and industries with our Walas Companies, partners and communities.
Visit World of WalasAbout Dortmund
For 160 years, the industrial complex of Phoenix in Hörde has been an icon for both the city of Dortmund and the German steel branch. The story of the factory is so intrinsically connected to the story of the neighbourhood that it is impossible to separate one from the other. The area experienced multiple ups and downs, both in the industry and in the urban settlement. With the closure of Phoenix West in 1998 and Phoenix Ost in 2001, steel production in Dortmund ended. The machinery and buildings were partly dismantled and sold. The location of the 150 year old Hermannhütte was transformed to become the Phoenix Lake in 2011. The urban lake is now beautifully surrounded by modern architecture with a mix of residential use, offices and retail. On the other side of the old industrial area, Phoenix West is now ready to accommodate old and new buildings with high tech production, research and recreational facilities.
Walas looks forward to working in this historic community, with the following companies and so much more. Companies coming to Dortmund: Walas Deutschland, Walas Concepts, Farm2Future, Dudoc, BlueWorxx, Earth Embassy.
Partnerships
Walas partners globally with other businesses, organizations and movement who are committed to building a future that is socially, financially, environmentally and economically sustainable. These partnerships include businesses, cities, communities, local, regional and national governments, universities, NGOs and other organizations. Some of our current active partnerships include:
